📋 Complete Free Plan Breakdown
🎯 Core Free Limits (2025)
⏱️ Time-Based Limits:
- Monthly allowance: 300 minutes total
- Per-session limit: Maximum 30 minutes per recording
- Import allowance: 3 audio file uploads per month
- Reset cycle: 1st of each calendar month
- No carryover: Unused minutes expire monthly
🚫 Feature Restrictions:
- AI summary: Limited to basic summaries only
- Sharing: Restricted sharing capabilities
- Export options: Limited format choices
- Integrations: No Salesforce, Slack, or Zoom connections
- Support: Email support only (slower response)
⚠️ Important Limitations
30-Minute Session Cap
📊 What This Means:
- • Each recording automatically stops at 30 minutes
- • Long meetings require multiple sessions
- • No way to extend single session length
- • Applies to live recording and imports
- • Can’t be overridden with workarounds
🔧 Workaround Strategies:
- • Start new session immediately after 30min
- • Use multiple devices for longer meetings
- • Split long files before importing
- • Combine with other free tools
- • Consider upgrading for important meetings
Monthly Reset Behavior
📅 Reset Schedule:
- • Resets: 1st day of each month at 12:00 AM UTC
- • No carryover of unused minutes
- • Fresh 300 minutes regardless of previous usage
- • Import limit also resets to 3 files
- • Consistent timing across all time zones
💡 Strategic Planning:
- • Plan important meetings early in month
- • Track usage to avoid running out
- • Use remaining minutes before month-end
- • Don’t save minutes - they expire
- • Consider upgrade timing strategically
📊 Usage Tracking & Management
📱 How to Monitor Your Minutes
Desktop App Tracking
🖥️ Finding Usage Info:
- Open Otter.ai web app or desktop
- Click on your profile icon (top right)
- Select "Account Settings"
- Navigate to "Plan & Billing"
- View current month usage
📊 Information Displayed:
- • Minutes used this month
- • Minutes remaining
- • Next reset date
- • Import files used
- • Plan limitations overview
Mobile App Monitoring
📱 Mobile Steps:
- Open Otter mobile app
- Tap the menu icon (three lines)
- Select "Settings"
- Tap "Account"
- View usage statistics
📲 Mobile Limitations:
- • Less detailed than web version
- • Basic usage numbers only
- • No historical usage data
- • Limited settings access
- • Use web for detailed tracking
⚡ Maximizing Your 300 Minutes
🎯 Smart Usage Strategies:
- Prioritize important meetings: Use for crucial business discussions
- Batch shorter sessions: 15-20 minute recordings work well
- Pre-meeting prep: Plan which meetings to record
- Quality over quantity: Record fewer, more valuable meetings
- Use all 3 imports: Process pre-recorded content strategically
🚀 Efficiency Tips:
- Start recording late: Skip introductions and small talk
- Stop early: End before wrap-up and goodbyes
- Focus on content: Record decision-making portions only
- Use pauses: Pause during breaks or off-topic discussions
- Audio quality: Better audio = more accurate transcription
⚖️ Free Minutes Comparison
🏆 Free Plan Comparison Table
| Platform | Free Minutes | Session Limit | Reset Cycle | Key Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otter.ai | 300 min | 30 min | Monthly | Limited AI, 3 imports |
| Fireflies.ai | 800 min | No limit | Monthly | Limited storage |
| Tldv | 1000 min | No limit | Monthly | Video call focus |
| Notta | 120 min | 5 min | Monthly | Short sessions |
| Sembly | 40 min | 10 min | Monthly | Very limited |
| Supernormal | 0 min | N/A | Trial only | No free plan |
🎯 Otter’s Position:
- • Mid-range allowance: More than Notta/Sembly, less than Fireflies/Tldv
- • 30-minute session cap: More restrictive than competitors
- • Good brand recognition: Well-known and trusted platform
- • Solid free features: Basic transcription quality is good
- • Upgrade pressure: Limitations encourage paid plans
🚀 Strategies for Heavy Users
💡 When You Need More Than 300 Minutes
Option 1: Multi-Platform Strategy
🔄 Platform Rotation:
- • Otter: 300 minutes/month
- • Fireflies: 800 minutes/month
- • Tldv: 1000 minutes/month
- • Total: 2,100 free minutes monthly
- • Use different platforms for different meeting types
📋 Management Tips:
- • Track usage across platforms
- • Use spreadsheet or app to monitor
- • Assign platforms to meeting types
- • Export data regularly
- • Maintain consistent naming conventions
Option 2: Strategic Upgrading
💰 Cost Analysis:
- • Otter Pro: $8.33/month (annual)
- • Gets: 6,000 minutes monthly
- • Cost per minute: $0.0014
- • Break-even: ~600 minutes/month usage
- • Additional features included
🎯 Upgrade Timing:
- • Upgrade mid-month if needed
- • Get prorated billing
- • Immediate access to higher limits
- • Can downgrade next month
- • No long-term commitment required
Option 3: Hybrid Approach
🔧 Smart Combination:
- • Use free plans for routine meetings
- • Upgrade temporarily for busy months
- • Keep Fireflies as primary (800 min free)
- • Use Otter for specific features
- • Switch between tools based on needs
📊 Expected Savings:
- • Save $70-90/month vs full subscriptions
- • Pay only when you need extra capacity
- • Maintain access to multiple platforms
- • Reduce vendor lock-in risk
- • Test different features before committing
🔧 Troubleshooting Common Issues
⚠️ Frequent Problems & Solutions
Problem: Minutes Not Resetting
🐛 Common Causes:
- • Time zone confusion (resets at UTC)
- • Browser cache issues
- • Account sync delays
- • Multiple account confusion
- • App version outdated
🔧 Solutions:
- • Log out and back in
- • Clear browser cache/cookies
- • Update mobile app
- • Check you’re on correct account
- • Wait 24 hours after reset date
Problem: 30-Minute Cutoff
🚫 What Happens:
- • Recording stops automatically
- • No warning before cutoff
- • Must start new session manually
- • Transcription incomplete
- • No way to extend session
💡 Workarounds:
- • Set 25-minute timer reminder
- • Use multiple devices
- • Start new session immediately
- • Record most important parts first
- • Consider upgrading for long meetings
Problem: Unexpected Usage
📊 Usage Sources:
- • Auto-join meetings consumed minutes
- • Imported files counted against limit
- • Team members shared account
- • Background recording enabled
- • Multiple meeting rooms recorded
🔍 Tracking Solutions:
- • Review recording history daily
- • Disable auto-join features
- • Check team/shared account usage
- • Monitor import file usage
- • Set up usage alerts
🔗 Related Otter Guides
📊 Otter 600 Minutes Deep Dive
Complete analysis of Otter’s misleading marketing claims about limits
🆓 Otter Free Plan Complete Guide
Everything about Otter’s free plan features and restrictions
🚀 Maximizing Otter Free Plan
Advanced strategies for getting the most from free tier
🏆 Best Free Transcription Software
Compare all free transcription options and alternatives
Need More Than 300 Free Minutes? 🎯
Discover platforms with more generous free tiers or find the perfect paid plan for your usage.